Barbara McNichol Editorial Serviceshttp://barbaramcnichol.com
Add power and persuasion to your books, articles, and one-sheetsFri, 10 Aug 2018 13:28:41 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8NonfictionBookEditorhttps://feedburner.google.comFree Webinar: 7 Steps to Writing and Publishing Your Bookhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NonfictionBookEditor/~3/ANA0XmIkqE4/
http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/08/04/free-webinar-7-steps-to-writing-and-publishing-your-book/#respondSat, 04 Aug 2018 22:58:37 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4606Are you thinking about writing and publishing a book? Are you wondering how to organize your thoughts? Structure your book? Are you even thinking about how you’ll market and sell your book? Join Gail Woodard on Thursday, August 23rd for a free online webinar to discover the easy ways to make progress with your book […]

Are you thinking about writing and publishing a book? Are you wondering how to organize your thoughts? Structure your book? Are you even thinking about how you’ll market and sell your book?

Join Gail Woodard on Thursday, August 23rd for a free online webinar to discover the easy ways to make progress with your book project. Gail is the author of Write the Book You’re Meant to Write, edited by Barbara McNichol.

Gail’s new book for authors

Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, you’ll find this webinar full of helpful advice. During this session, you’ll discover:

Your WHY – so you write the right book and don’t end up with the wrong book!

How your WHY will help you structure your book!

How to organize your ideas so you can write more easily and create a better book.

How to develop a marketing mindset to sell your book.

Wherever you live in the world, join Gail on this FREE webinar so you can get started or move forward on YOUR book project NOW.

]]>http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/08/04/free-webinar-7-steps-to-writing-and-publishing-your-book/feed/0http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/08/04/free-webinar-7-steps-to-writing-and-publishing-your-book/Don’t Make Me Get Out the Red Pen!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NonfictionBookEditor/~3/L8ffTLF5ub4/
http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/08/01/dont-make-me-get-out-the-red-pen/#respondWed, 01 Aug 2018 16:33:19 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4597by Lynne Franklin (used with permission) Here’s the truth. No one wants to read what you write. Everyone is time-starved. For many, the best moments in the day are when we see an email we don’t have to read and can hit “delete.” Because we’re overwhelmed, we write something, give it a quick look, and […]

Here’s the truth. No one wants to read what you write. Everyone is time-starved. For many, the best moments in the day are when we see an email we don’t have to read and can hit “delete.”

Because we’re overwhelmed, we write something, give it a quick look, and then hit “send.” We forget that we’re writing to persuade people to do something – not noticing that what we’ve created just made it harder for them to agree with us. One of our chief sins is …

Being Boring

Kill the Clichés. When you use these, you scream, “I have no original thoughts! I’m doing this on autopilot.” Why would anyone want to read further – let alone care what you think?

Stop Droning On. It’s neuroscience. Once a sentence passes the 25-word mark, you can’t remember the subject. (Or maybe you just no longer want to.) Aim for an average of 10- to 12-word sentences in reports and speeches, and eight-to-10 words in emails.

Don’t think that commas, dashes and semicolons can save you. It’s true: the first two give your readers a place to take a breath in their minds. But don’t abuse this tactic. Cut that longer sentence into two. And generally avoid using semicolons. They mostly confuse people – and could lead to arguments with English majors (who will be happy to tell you when you’ve used them incorrectly).

Watch the length of your paragraphs. Few things are as discouraging as seeing one that goes on for 20 lines. I once reviewed a document with a 265-word sentence, in a paragraph that lasted a page (single-spaced). I was the only person who read it. While I forgot the subject 10 times, I remembered the ire it engendered.

Get to the Good Stuff Fast. Before you begin, consider what your readers know. If you must, reference important shared knowledge quickly. But spend most of your time on new ideas. Telling people what they already know – at length – bores them or makes them think you’re talking down to them. They’ll either stop reading (because they’re not learning anything) or get angry with you.

A colleague once explained it this way: “Reading his writing was like taking the local versus the express bus.” Most non-engineers don’t need to get into the weeds on the hows or whys of something. Focus on what’s in it for your reader, then decide what to keep or junk.

It’s a Conversation

Read Your Writing Out Loud. Watch for the words that stumble off your lips – or when this is language you’d never ordinarily use. (“Pursuant” anyone?) Change those kinds of words.

Often your writing is the conversation you have with someone on screen or paper before you have the conversation on the phone or in person. Don’t bore them. You’ll miss the chance at that second conversation – and getting what you want.

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http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/07/12/have-you-heard-of-book-selling-university/#respondThu, 12 Jul 2018 22:21:58 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4580by Barbara McNichol Did you know you can now get book-related information on demand to help you plan, produce, price, distribute, and promote your books more efficiently? Yes, through Book Selling University, sponsored by Association of Publishers for Special Sales (APSS). I’m fortunate to be part of a line-up of 60+ fabulous instructors who have […]

Did you know you can now get book-related information on demand to help you plan, produce, price, distribute, and promote your books more efficiently? Yes, through Book Selling University, sponsored by Association of Publishers for Special Sales (APSS).

I’m fortunate to be part of a line-up of 60+ fabulous instructors who have one goal in mind: show you how to succeed as an author in these categories.

BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING

PREPARATION

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

DISTRIBUTION

PROMOTION

SPECIAL SALES

My hour-long webinar/course, Strengthen Everything You Write (Barbara McNichol, BSU-176) is offered as part of PREPARATION.

Working with Book Selling University, you’ll be able to:

Take courses as time permits and needs demand

Learn from instructors who are experts on their course material

Make more money selling your books

Price your books for maximum profits

Pinpoint social media

Improve your sales online

Make your publicity more effective and efficient and MORE

These TWO FREE COURSES get you started:

How to Purchase a Course (Brian Jud, BSU-199)

Introduction to Special Sales (Brian Jud, BSU-100)

I encourage you to check out this golden opportunity to take any element of the book writing/publishing/selling journey and learn more about it.

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http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/07/01/how-and-why-to-work-with-an-editor/#respondSun, 01 Jul 2018 22:33:34 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4574Barbara McNichol from June 2018 issue of Speaker Magazine As a professional, you send your ideas into the world in writing—via books, blogs, articles, and more. In today’s crowded marketplace, the more you write, the more every word counts. Who can help you break through the clutter? Editors: your conduit to communicating to those you […]

As a professional, you send your ideas into the world in writing—via books, blogs, articles, and more. In today’s crowded marketplace, the more you write, the more every word counts.

Who can help you break through the clutter? Editors: your conduit to communicating to those you want to influence. For if an experienced editor doesn’t “get” your message, neither will they. And because the written word sticks around longer than the spoken word, it matters!

Why You Need an Editor

It’s tempting to regard hiring editors as an unnecessary expense. Instead, see it as an investment in effectiveness. Here’s why:

You grow as a writer. Pay attention to editors’ changes and learn the tricks of the editing trade. That includes getting assurance that your piece meets your objective.

You improve your book’s marketing power. A good editor can wordsmith titles, headings and subheads as well as incorporate keywords to hook readers during online searches.

You gain insight and save embarrassment. Your writing benefits from an editor’s initial “deep massage” that asks insightful questions and makes suggestions to hone your message. It’s followed by a tight copyedit to find those pesky grammar gremlins and wording errors before readers do. After you make changes, your editor reviews everything, does a final proofread, and keeps your project moving.

Then at the end of the process, you can declare with confidence, “My writing sounds just like me—only better!” (As an editor, that’s what I desire for my clients.)

Choosing an Editor

For books, the magic of selecting the right editor lies in the Sample Edit—a complimentary edit of your work from your manuscript. Sure, you get value from seeing Before and After of someone else’s project, but don’t skip this step. Request samples from all contenders. That’s how you come close to comparing apples to apples.

I call the Sample Edit “magic” because you get to see:

the level of editing required

how clearly your message can be expressed

if the edits changed your voice—a huge concern for authors.

And it does something else: The Sample Edit helps determine your project’s place on the editing spectrum. Does it require proofreading, copyediting, or a complete rewrite? Along with word count, that determines an editor’s customized fee, communicated in writing up front.

In your selection process, be sure to examine prospective editors’ credentials. Study their websites and peruse their portfolios. Testimonials are great, but also ask for references so you can pose questions to their clients related to your needs.

In short, don’t miss the opportunity to deliver your best writing. After all, it’s you, your voice, your contribution to the world. Make sure your message comes across clear and strong. It’s that important!

Tricks of the Editing Trade

Enliven your text by using active (not passive) construction:

Active: “The boy chomped into the juicy watermelon.” The verb “chomped” is active.

Passive: “The juicy watermelon was eaten by the boy.” The word “by” is a clue that it’s passive.

Keep it simple:

One idea per sentence

One distinct point per paragraph

No more than 21 words in a sentence.

Whack wordiness:

“I really think it’s time to go.” (“It’s time to go.”)

“Due to the fact that” (“Because…”)

“There are m[M]any experts that believe in magic.”

Word Alert: The word “that” doesn’t substitute for “who” when referring to a person. You’d refer to someone who speaks, not someone that speaks.

As an expert editor, Barbara McNichol proudly helps speakers/authors change the world with their well-crafted words. Over 24 years, Barbara has placed more than 350 books (and counting) on her editor’s “trophy shelf.” She is also the creator of Word Trippers Tips, a resource for better writing available at www.WordTrippers.com.

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http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/06/23/be-a-better-writer-and-see-your-career-soar/#respondSat, 23 Jun 2018 22:01:20 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4549Do you want to be More Valuable to your company or your clients? Your writing qualifies you for hiring, for retaining, and for getting promoted. But writing is the gateway to rejection, too. People judge your abilities by the quality of your writing. It’s a harsh fact. In business, people who don’t write well to […]

Do you want to be More Valuable to your company or your clients? Your writing qualifies you for hiring, for retaining, and for getting promoted. But writing is the gateway to rejection, too.

People judge your abilities by the quality of your writing.

It’s a harsh fact. In business, people who don’t write well to communicate—who don’t select the right words to express complex ideas—are perceived as lacking credibility … professionalism … accuracy in their work.

On the flip side, those who master the written word are remembered as influential … reputable … successful.

My name is Barbara McNichol, chief architect of Word Trippers Tips. After years of editing nonfiction manuscripts and proofreading hundreds of thousands of lines of copy, I realized that everyone makes mistakes … everyone mixes up similar words … and everyone loses credibility the moment readers recognize the errors.

I have turned those common errors into a program professionals use to improve their writing instantly: Word Trippers Tips. It includes a 38-minute WEBINAR on its own and/or 12 MONTHS Word Tripper of the Week plus bonuses.

How can you learn to be a better writer and make your career soar?

Go to www.WordTrippers.com and/or listen to this teleclass 5 Nuggets Successful People Know and Use on better writing.

]]>http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/06/23/be-a-better-writer-and-see-your-career-soar/feed/0http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/06/23/be-a-better-writer-and-see-your-career-soar/18 DAYS to Become a Better Writer – New E-Guidehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NonfictionBookEditor/~3/9MsKlQx1rcY/
http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/06/22/18-days-to-become-a-better-writer/#commentsFri, 22 Jun 2018 19:17:33 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4545Set aside 18 days and study one of these easy, effective tips to be a better writer each day for 18 days, continuous or not. Your goal: Make a point of integrating a new one into your writing every day . . . and see the difference you make perfecting the communication loop to benefit […]

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http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/06/09/who-or-whom-heres-how-to-choose-between-them/#respondSat, 09 Jun 2018 20:04:39 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4532by Kathleen Watson Do you have difficulty when it comes to choosing who or whom in your writing? Some think whom sounds stuffy and pretentious. When did proper grammar become stuffy? I think that’s an excuse made by people who don’t know the difference. Does anyone criticize Ernest Hemingway for using whom in the title […]

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http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/06/05/youre-told-to-fix-and-polish-this-message-but-how/#commentsTue, 05 Jun 2018 22:30:11 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4523By Barbara McNichol Suppose your supervisor emails you a message that says, “Fix the attached” or “Polish this piece.” But exactly what does it mean to fix and polish? In addition to correcting punctuation, typos, misspellings, and grammar glitches, what’s required beyond that? First, find out what your supervisor thinks it needs. Where does it […]

Suppose your supervisor emails you a message that says, “Fix the attached” or “Polish this piece.” But exactly what does it mean to fix and polish? In addition to correcting punctuation, typos, misspellings, and grammar glitches, what’s required beyond that?

First, find out what your supervisor thinks it needs. Where does it fall short? What’s missing? Whether or not you receive an answer, go through the following key questions yourself:

Why is this piece needed? What’s its intended purpose? Because readers are busy, you must immediately make clear what this message is about. A specific title or subject line goes a long way. For example, instead of writing “For New Customers” you might write, “5 Ways to Communicate with New Customers.”

What should the reader do, think, believe, or remember as a result of this piece? Does the communication specify what you want readers to do and by when? How easy is it for them to first understand the instruction and then take action? For example, if it’s a letter to a credit card company about a dispute, make it clear what you want, e.g., future credit or a refund. Then state when you want a resolution, e.g., “before the next payment cycle on June 23rd.” Put this call to action near the top!

How long should your sentences and paragraphs be? Ensure your message comes across in short, easy-to-read sentences. My rule of thumb is not more than 21 words in one sentence or 3-4 sentences in one paragraph. Why? It’s hard for anyone to track your meaning when sentences ramble, especially when they’re part of long paragraphs. People scan more than they read; they can take in short sentences and paragraphs more quickly than long-winded ones. Don’t make it seem like hard work!

How can you use polite, positive language to persuade others?Remember, a positive outcome should be the goal of every communication. Your objective may be to retain a customer, win a contract, build a relationship, gain approval, or advance a project. Always spell out benefits: e.g., resolution, improvements, increased profit, etc. And be polite by using words such as welcome, thank you, please, appreciate, happy to, and value your input. If your piece doesn’t include positive language, then why send it at all?

When it’s up to you to fix and polish that important message, use these questions as your checklist every time.

Why is this piece needed? What’s its intended purpose?

What should the reader do, think, believe, or remember as a result of this piece?

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http://barbaramcnichol.com/2018/05/22/aspiring-author-to-published-pro-you-can-do-it/#respondWed, 23 May 2018 02:06:08 +0000http://barbaramcnichol.com/?p=4512Do you know someone who is struggling with a book project — or who’s thinking about being an aspiring author but is overwhelmed by all the information out there? Do you know people who could use honest advice, truthful information, and even some hand-holding to help them get their meaningful book written, published, and marketed? […]

Do you know someone who is struggling with a book project — or who’s thinking about being an aspiring author but is overwhelmed by all the information out there?

Do you know people who could use honest advice, truthful information, and even some hand-holding to help them get their meaningful book written, published, and marketed?

My friend, publisher Gail Woodard at Dudley Court Press, is committed to helping thoughtful people write and publish books that matter — to them and to the world.

Sometimes it’s hard for people to step up to receive the help they need to get their books done right. So Gail has created a program to make it easy for anyone to get the right advice, the right information, and the right support so they can publish a book they can be proud of.

Six-Month Online Program

Aspiring Author to Published Pro is a six-month online program complete with in-depth educational modules, weekly emails for accountability and support, and twice monthly Q&A calls with Gail. She will answer your questions, celebrate your accomplishments, and help you network with other authors.

I invite you to consider this program — for yourself or others you know who would love to have the support, direction, and guidance they’d get from a seasoned pro.

What People Say

Listen to what participants in the precursor program had to say:

“My book would not exist if not for this program. It changed my initial boring concept into a timely, cutting-edge platform”

“Gail helps to take the fear and trepidation out of book writing. She’s able to meet everyone where they are and move them along on their journey to authorship”

“This program was a great experience. Gail was attentive and generous with her coaching.”

“Gail is such a fabulous teacher and coach who is clearly extremely knowledgeable and passionate about her field.”

Amazing Discount

Right now, this expanded program is available at an amazing 50% discount. Sign up now to get the introductory price of only $1,500 for the complete program for the full six months. Seats are limited.

So think about who you know would love this program. Check out this page for more information. You’ll be wow’d by everything you’ll discover and all the support you’ll get in this program.

Send this link on to your friends, colleagues, and family members who have a book in them that wants to be written. Let’s make this their year to become a published author!